A study was conducted on 240 scavenging chickens randomly obtained from various districts from the state of Penang, Peninsular Malaysia. The chickens were closely examined for visible ectoparasites in the laboratory. The ectoparasites were collected using a blunt forceps and stored in universal bottles containing 70% ethanol. Ten species of ectoparasites were noted which consisted of five species of lice, two species of mites, two species of ticks and one species of chigger. The lice identifi ed were Menopon gallinae, Menacanthus pallidulus, Lipeurus caponis, Goniocotes gallinae and Goniodes dissimilis. These lice occurred in the fl uff of the feathers of the body especially the neck, back, abdomen and wings. The mites were Megninia sp. and Pterolichus sp. Examinations of the ears and combs revealed Haemaphysalis sp., the hard tick. Meanwhile, Ornithonyssus sp., the soft tick was found on feathers, whereas chigger, Leptotrombidium sp. was found attached to the skins. The study also revealed that M. gallinae was the most common ectoparasite with 76.7% occurrence, followed by Pterolichus sp. (69.6%), L. caponis (63.3%), M. pallidulus (41.7%), Leptotrombidium sp. (17.5%), G. gallinae (9.5%), Haemaphysalis sp. (6.7%), Megninia sp. (3.8%) and Ornithonyssus sp. (3.8%). The least common ectoparasite was G. dissimilis occurring in 2.1% of the chickens.

This report describes the parasitological and pathological information retrieved from the samples submitted to Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Bukit Tengah, Penang (MVKBT) followingan episode of histomoniasis in a small scale poultry farm. Liver and ceca from two dead turkey birds, water (n=5) and freshwater snails (Pomacea sp, n=7) were stored between 4°C to 10°C until analyzed. Soil samples (n=7) were preserved in 5% formalin and kept at room temperature prior to further testing. The soil samples were filtered through laboratory test sieves before the filtrates at each level were examined using direct microscopy. Portions of the liver were processed using routine paraffin technique for histopathological examination and found positive for Histomoniasis. Results from direct microscopy of the liver samples revealed Schistosoma mansoni ova, Sarcocystis sporocysts and Fasciola sp. Heterakis sp ova were detected from cecal content. Four out of seven soil samples were positive for Sarcocystis sporocysts, Coccidia oocyst, Strongyles ova and nematod larva. Water and freshwater snail samples were negative for cercaria of Schistosoma mansoni. This case was concluded as Histomoniasis, Sarcocystosis and helminthiasis with incidental finding of Schistosoma mansoni.

The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) established a subsidy programme to build low cost swiftlet houses, under the auspices ofthe eKasih programme. This programme is aimed at aiding entrepreneurs in the swiftlet industry to produce good qualitybird’s nests. In 2013, eleven swiftlet houses under eKasih Program in Johor, Perlis and Pahang were chosen randomly to be evaluated after a year of completion. The main factors affecting its functionality, such as temperature, relative humidity and light intensity inside the swiftlet houses were recorded and analysed. The results showed that most of the eKasih swiftlet houses built under this programme did not meet the recommended in house conditions due to several reasons. The houses built in this programme failed to attract the birds into the houses to build nests. Although there were some houses that produced bird’s nests, it was found to be substandard in terms of quality. Thus, this study revealed the importance of various factors needed for the successful establishment of swiftlet houses to produce good quality bird’s nests.